Which Offset Printing Type Is The Best?

 

Introduction

Offset printing is one of the most popular ways to print large quantities of high quality materials. The process has been around since the late 1800s and has been refined over time to be more effective, efficient and affordable. It's also a great option for many different types of projects including brochures, business cards and magazines. There are three main types of offset printing: lithography, rotogravure and flexography. Each type uses its own unique method to transfer ink onto paper which results in some slight variations in quality as well as price point. In this article we'll discuss these three printing methods so that you can decide which might be best suited for your project needs!

Lithography

Lithography is a printing process in which a lithographic stone is used. It produces high-quality prints, with a resolution of up to 1,200 dpi. Lithography is the most common type of offset printing, but is not as fast as other processes.

The process takes advantage of the water loving and repelling qualities of some surfaces, such as on the stone above.

The advantage of lithography is that it can produce at extremely high speeds and volumes. It's disadvantage is its ability to print on a wide range of substrates. It is also considered the most cost effective method.

Rotogravure

Rotogravure is a printing process that uses a gravure cylinder with a raised pattern on its surface. The gravure cylinder is used to print images on the paper. The process is very simple and transfers when paper is squeezed between the cylinder above and the impression cylinder below.  It is a more expensive form of printing but extremely fast.

Flexography

Flexography is the most common type of offset printing technology. It's used for printing on plastic and paper, as well as other substrates.

It's also used for printing on a variety of consumer products, including food packaging and labels on wine bottles. This is the advantage of flexography is it's ability to print even on very thick or unusual surfaces.

Discussing the pros and cons of three types of offset printing

Lithography is the most common offset printing method, used to print a wide range of materials including magazines, catalogs, newspapers and books. The process uses a flat plate covered with an image that is transferred to a rubber blanket and then to the paper. The major advantage of lithography is its ability to produce large quantities at a reasonable cost.

Offset printing is the most widely used because of its far reaching applications and therefore considered by many to be the best for modern society.

Conclusion

If you are looking for the best offset printing technology, it is important to understand the differences between each type of offset printing. Lithography is a great option if you want to print large quantities of high-quality images at an affordable price. Rotogravure is better suited for smaller orders and unique designs because it uses gravure plates instead of steel plates like litho does. Flexo offers an alternative method for making copies with less ink coverage than other types of offset printing methods do. It also allows a wide range of substrates.